Giuseppe Calì’s artistic evolution explored in the Heritage Malta masterclass
A masterclass discussing the evolution of Giuseppe Calì’s art will be delivered by Mark Sagona on December 1 at the MUSEUM. The masterclass is being organized by Heritage Malta in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Art History of the University of Malta.
Entitled Art Up Close: Giuseppe Calì (1846-1930): Romanticism between the realist and the eclectic, the masterclass will focus on the character and context of Cali’s works as they moved from Naplitan verisimilitude, for hints of the paintings of the story of Paul Delaroche (1787-1856), which open to the sweetness of the works of Pietro Gagliardi (1809-1890) in Malta, which change at the same time towards ethos of the Baroque Resurrection.
Born in Malta to Italian parents fleeing Bourbon Naples, Giuseppe Calì began to dominate Maltese art between 1880 and 1920. A virtuoso by birth, he was immensely gifted with talent for inventiveness, expressiveness and narrative, and, above all, speed of execution. . Unsurprisingly, he broke the Maltese tradition of studying in Naples, where members of his family had enjoyed a remarkable reputation.
Cali was truly a product of its own Romantic and eclectic times. Naples was an extraordinary influence on the young artist: he was captured by the works of Giuseppe Mancinelli (1813-75), Filippo Palizzi (1818-99) but most especially by those of the great Domenico Morelli (1823- 1901). This was the eclectic recipe he introduced with his return to Malta, and strongly transformed the local artistic climate.
After the presentation by Sagona, attendees will also be treated to an exclusive tour to see the Cali pieces of MUSEUM and discuss them in their historical and artistic context as well as their narrative within the exhibitions at MUSEUM.
The one-hour masterclass will begin at 6.30pm. Admission is free, but a reservation is required at any Heritage Malta museum or site, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. All attendees must wear a face mask and respect social breakout measures.
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